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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros slams release of smuggled sugar; insists sugar order a req't under law

Hontiveros slams release of smuggled sugar; insists sugar order a req't under law

Published Apr 28, 2023 11:26 am
  Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, April 28, reiterated her stand that a sugar order is needed before any imports of the commodity can be released to the consuming public.   Hontiveros pointed this out as she assailed Malacañang’s release of smuggled sugar in the country, saying government is also a “willing and enthusiastic sponsor and enabler” of sugar smuggling in the Philippines.   “From then to now, I stand with our stakeholders from the sugar sector: A sugar order is a requirement under the law. There can be no imports if there are no sugar orders,” Hontiveros said.   “An SRA (Sugar Regulatory Administration)  sugar order is our very imperfect instrument  for balancing the welfare of farmers, planters and millers on the one hand and of consumers and food manufacturers, on the other hand who must also rely on imports to augment the limited supply,” she stressed.    “We have been duped again. Not only did illegal supplies of sugar slip through our ports, but the government led the public to believe that it would halt and investigate any contraband,” she lamented.   Hontiveros further lamented that lawmakers could have had the opportunity to fully investigate this conspiracy in the sugar fiasco part two. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, however, has yet to investigate the continuing controversy.   “The President did not sign the assailed sugar order used to cover-up the smuggling operation by Usec. Panganiban and the three importers. But it appears to be very clear  to Undersecretary (Domingo) Panganiban and to all ‘obedient’ officials from Malacanang, SRA and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that the emperor wants something and his wishes should not be foiled,” she said.   “In this fiasco, thousands of tons of sugar arrived in the country with no accompanying sugar order or other permits. However, SRA dubiously ironed out all kinks within the subsequent two months. Additional memos, a pile of clearances, dubious reading of the calendar - all of these were resorted to in order to secure the release of the contraband supply,” she said.   “There is no doubt that they are trying to straighten what is crooked. This is legal cover-up at its finest or its most gross, and it has failed miserably. That is why they are afraid of facing us,” she reiterated.       

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